Block feeding mechanism for match machines



May 24, 1927. E. SNYDER BLOCK FEEDING MECHANISM FR MATCH MACHINES FiledJuly 3. 1926 2 Sheets-$ heet l ay 24 927 E. sNYDER BLOCK FEEDIINGMECHANISM FOR MATCH MACHINES med July s flsze 2 sheets-sneer 2 H K mw;body1ng my invention.

Patented May 2K4, 1927. Y

fren sTAras nmsrmrnsumma, or :Bannnarnia, pino, Assrenonmorrrn DIAMONDlintron 00M- PVASNY, krOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BLOGK-FEEDING MECHANISM Fon MATCH MACHINES.

Application filed '.Tuly .3,

--This invention relates to Vblock-feeding mechanism for match machinesof that'class wherein blocks offwood are delivered to feed rolls andthereby intermittently moved to devices vwhich cut Asuccessive rows ofsplints 'from the blocks and insert the splints in a suitable carrier.

The objectof my invention is to `provide a block delivery-mechanism ofsimple and efhcient construction whereby 4blocks ar yranged-end toend,are uniformly advanced to-the feedv rolls irrespective offditferences inlthoheight of succeeding lblocks `or of the presence oflspacesor gapsbetween adjacent blocks as; they progress tothe rolls.

The invention, in its preferred 'form'herein `illustrated,comprises ablock-feeding trough ;l 'an endless chain having -itsactive run arrangedto; travel` in. thel vbottom ofI thef trough toward the" main block-feed rolls, which .chain'is f adapted to support and carr the blockscontained in the\trough;a vertically `movableresilient supportforltheactive runofthe chain, and a lnovel ffrictionally con- ;trolled Y feed-mechanism adapted k@to act upon the tops' ofthe-blocks and co-act withthe chain to eiect the proper delivery of -the blocks-to the feed rolls.

The invention also comprises novel vvfeatures of 'construction andcombinations of parts, allof which ywill be hereinafter described andclaimed.

VIn the drawingsad 192e. serial-N0. 120.260.

ceivefvblocks of wood, 11, 'and direct them to the path of the usualsplint cutters of the match ,-machine. VIntermittently rotatableyf'eedrollsrlQ are arranged in pairs kwithin said structure'and-areadapted to engage the blocks ('11) at top andbottom and positively.advancef'them stepbystepto the path of the cutters. 4Infthe' presentinstance,the shafts orftrunnions 1:3"of the rolls,which have, theirbearings inthe `sides of the structure :110,are geared together forIconcurrent rotation vloy'a train offgears Mat one side of the structure.One of the shafts or trunnions is-provi`ded `atthe Aopposite end ofthestructure with la ratchetwheel 15 andan oscillatinglever '16 -whereof-one arm carries aI pawl 17 in engagement with the teeth ofthe ratchetwheel. Thefother armofth'e lever is connected to and-operated `by Vareciprocating link V18-to effectthey intermittentrotation of the ratchetVwheel andits shaft, such motion being transmitted thence through the4gearing to thefeed rolls, asusual. i

The block-s`upply trough 19 leading Lto the guide structure 1() isillustrated asprovided with .two spaced parallel partitions V20 v'which4afford three longitudinal channels whereby three lrows'of blocksaredirected simultaneously to theguide structure. The bottoms ofthe'respective channels are longitudinally slottedto accommodate the upperruns o'f'endless conveyer chains 21 whichengage the respective rows ofblocks and impel Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of -the ."theintowardthe-delivery end of the trough.

block-supply trough and associated parts equipped `with block-feedmechanism emvFigj'Z isa longitudinal `vertical section of the apparatus,ason'the line 2--2 of Fig. `1.

' Figs. 3 ande: are views,enlarged, of 'one of the frictionallycontrolled feed-rolls and one ofits friction washers, respectively.

Fig. 5 vis a side elevation of theltroughand the block jfeed mechanismthereof.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section through said Vtrough andmechanism, asonfthe line 6-f-6 of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a verticalusection, enlarged,

. througha pair of Jthe lfrictionally-controlled lfeed Trolls', and adjuncts. n

These `chains are* supported on sprocket whee1s122, 23 Aborne lay-shafts'24, 25 Ilocated `beneath and adjacent `the respective ends of thetrough, the inner shaft 24 being equipped with a sprocket wheel 26,about which passes a chain 27 which `is driven from a suitable sourceof power in such vmanner asto edectlthe requisite 'travel of theconveyer chains. The upper runs of these chains rest upon parallelsupportingV `bars 28, which., instead lof being `rigidly supl portedfrom end to end as heretofore, are mounted and arrangedl to exertyielding upward pressure against the yopposing runs of lthe conveyerchains and `the Vcontiguous rows of blocks as the latter are `beingadvanced to ythe deliveryend `of the trough. In the Ypresent instancethe outer ends of the 'bars 28 are fixed to a lstationary cross-bar '29Jlocated beneath 'the adjacent vend of the trough, the lengthof thebars28 permitting their limited vertical motion at their inner orforward ends. These forward ends overlie a cross-bar 30 which is spacedbelow and fixed to the underside of the trough. Each bar 2S has securedthereto the ripper end of a depending bolt 3l which extends freelythrough an aperture 32 in the bar 2S, and through an apertured socketpiece 33 fast on the underside of the cross-bar. Seated in the socketpiece so as to bear against the underside of the longitudinal bar 28'isa compression spring 34 which loosely encircles the bolt and tends tomaintain the free end of the bar 28 and the overlying run of theconveyer chain yieldingly raised.

Instead of the overhanging and swinging chain mechanism heretoforeemployed for engaging and advancing the rows of blocks adjacent thedelivery end ofthe trough, I provide a series of spaced-apart feed rolls35 against which the blocks are firmly pressed by the spring` actuatedbar 28, thus effecting the co-operative engagement of the chains 21 androlls 35 with the opposing lower and Lupper surfaces respectively of theblocks. rlhese rolls, which are peripherally serrated or milled, areloosely mounted at spaced intervals on a transverse shaft 36 which isjournaled in suitably supported boxes 37 at the respective sides of thetrough. This shaft 36 is driven concurrently with the conveyer chains21, preferably by the engagement of thedrive chain 27 with a sprocketwheel 38 on one end of the shaft 36. 'Fast on the shaft, in the spacesbetween the adjacent rolls 35, and also at the outer faces of the siderolls, are metal collars 39 against which friction washers 40 of fibremounted on the rolls,'are yieldingly pressed. The rolls 35 are providedwith laterally projecting pins 4l and the washers are suitablyperforated and loosely fitted ou the pins. This connect-ion ensures therotation of the, washers with the rolls, and since the washers are oflibre there is no liability of their seizing the collars. Each of therolls is formed with a series of spaced-apart transverse sockets l2 inwhich are' seated compression springs 43 which, bearing against theopposing washers, insure the requisite frictional contactof the washersand the collars.

The speed of the shaft 36 is such that when the rolls are free to rotatetherewith, thel peripheral speed of the rolls corresponds withy thelineal speed of the conveyer chains, which latter speed is greatly inexcess of that of the main block feed rolls l2. Hence the conveyerchains and the rolls 35 advance the interposed blocks much fasterthant-he block feed rolls 12 will receive them, but since the rolls 35are frictionally mounted on the shaft as above described the requisiteslippage of the rolls 35 is ensured to compensate for the speeddifferential of the main block feed rolls. Inasmuch as the shaft 36 iscontinuously rotating, any gap that may exist between succeeding blocks(e. g. caused by interrupted feeding by the operator) while they arepassing from the rolls 35 to the rolls l2, will be closed; and as thesprings 3l tend normally to raise the bars 28 and the upper runs of thechains 2l differences in the height of succcediuf r blocks arecompensated for aud a uniform feeding of the blocks is maintained.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the detailsof construction herein disclosed, as the mechanism may be modifiedwithin the principle of the invention and the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim- 1. In block-feeding mechanism for match machines, thecombination with block feed rolls, supporting and operating elementstherefor, and a block-supply trough leading to said rolls, ofblock-impelling means including an endless conveyer having its activerun extending longitudinally of the bottom of the trough, a transverseshaft overhanging the trough in advance of said rolls, a feed rollloosely mounted on said shaft, a frictional connection between saidrolland shaft, means for concurrently driving said shaft and conveyer ata higher speed than the block-feed rolls, and means for yieldinglyraising the active run of the conveyer and pressing the blocks intoengaging relation with the frictionally connected feed roll.

2. In block-feeding mechanism for match machines, the combination withblock feed rolls, supporting and operating elements therefor, and a`block-supply trough leading to said rolls, of lilock-impelliug meansincluding an endless couveyer having its active run extendinglongitudinally of the bottom of the trough, a transverse shaftoverhanging the trough in advance of said rolls, av feed roll looselymounted on said shaft', a frict-ional connection between said roll andshaft, means for concurrently driving said shaft and conveyer at ahigher speed than the block-feed rolls, a bar underlying and supportingthe active run of the couveyer, said bar being fixed at its end to thetrough, and a spring resiliently supporting the free end of the bai` soas to raise the active run of the chain and press the blocks into engaging relation with the frictionally connected roll.

3. In block-feeding mechanism for match machines, the combination withblock feed rolls,l supporting and operating elements therefor, and ablock-supply trough leading to said rolls, of block-impelling meansincluding .an endless conveyer having its active run extendinglongitudinally of the bottom of the trough, a transverse shaft llt)overhanging the trough in advance vof said rolls, a feed roll looselymounted on said shaft, collars fast on said shaft and embracing theroll, friction Washers interposed between the respective collars and theroll, means for concurrently driving said shaft and conveyer at a higherspeed than the block-feed rolls, and means for yieldingly raising theactive run ofthe conveyei and pressing the blocks into engaging relationWith the said loosely mounted feed roll.

4. In block-feeding mechanism for match machines, the combination Withblock feed rolls, supporting and operating elements therefor, and ablock-supply trough leading to said rolls, of blocleiinpelling meansincluding an endless conveyer having its active run extendinglongitudinally `of the bottom of the trough, a transverse shaftoverhanging the trough in advance of the rolls, a feed roll looselymounted on said shaft, collars fast on said shaft and embracing theroll, friction Washers interposed between th e respective collars andthe roll, means for concurrently driving said shaft and conveyer at ahigher speed than the blockwfeed rolls, a bar underlying and supportingthe active run of the conveyer, said bar being fixed at its end to thetrough, and a spring resiliently supporting the free end of the bar soas to raise the active run of the chain and press the blocks intoengaging relation with the said loosely mount-ed feed roll.

Signed at Barberton, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, this 30day of June, A. D. 1926.

EUGENE SNYDER.

